Day 24...

Social "misfit" girl didn't show up for class last night.  She must have read my blog and decided she didn't want a face punch.  In case some of you think I would really punch her in the face...duh!  No, not everything I write on this blog should be taken seriously, and things I write could be taken out of context and offend some people.  So if you're a person who is super sensitive to anything not PC, I urge you NOT to read my blogs.  Remember, I gave fair warning months ago...

TUESDAY, JANUARY 19, 2010

UWP & ME

I've decided to document my days as a non-traditional student at my new blog  UWP & ME.  It will just be some thoughts and highlights from a day in the life of an old lady's return to college life.
I can't promise that I won't diss college age girls and boys, or the professors I have (although names will be changed to protect the innocent myself).  I will probably poke fun at the university staff, mainly targeting 2 Prospective Student Services employees.  God knows, I will do plenty of profoundly stupid things that will require some blog attention, but from time to time I will get all deep and blow your mind with my perspective on life, liberty and the pursuit of a Philosophy degree.

Which reminds me, I officially declared my major yesterday...Philosophy but  I'm still debating on the minor.  I also registered for a pre-session summer class...wait for it...with the same crazy, smart professor that has been driving me crazy all semester.   I get 3 credits in 3 weeks though, so I am willing to suck it up.

Day 23...

Let me set the scene before I start my rant...

Yesterday 4:50pm - Sitting in a classroom before Philosophy class starts, reading a chapter from Ethnic Studies so I can have the homework posted online by 8am this morning. I have 10 minutes which is plenty of time to finish the reading I started while sitting in my car, trying hard not to drive to Kwik Trip and open my mouth under the Diet Mountain Dew spicket!

Enter...the annoying "I talk loudly on the phone, while others try to text, read, text, chat, text, do homework and did I mention text before class," girl.

Literally, she talks in full volume as the rest of us sit there, shooting daggers with our eyes into the back of her stupid head. Occasionally, one of the other annoyed people will purposely leave to use their phone in the hallway (where normal, polite and courteous people have their private conversations) just to see if she'll get the hint.  No dice!

Her conversations include shit like her mom's work schedule, or if she can't get enough graduation tickets for her family flying in from Las Vegas she'll be really pissed, or that she thinks it's super hilarious that we use "googled" like it's a verb....HA-HA-HA!

Really, who are you my fuckin' grandma?  I am sorry to say but if you are younger than 25 "googled" has been part of your vocabulary since...um... pretty much forever, so shut it! 

She does this every class...EVERY SINGLE CLASS!  She has literally walked past people talking on their phones in the hallway and sat down to interrupt the quiet peaceful classroom.  I mean come on, do you not see the eye rolls or hear the heavy, irritated sighs as others enter the room to see (& hear) you in the front row shouting about how you were a bad-ass in high school so when you call there "they will definitely remember who I am!"

My guess is they'll remember you because you were as socially retarded then, as you are now, and they all wanted to punch you in your face!

I think for the safety of young ignorant girls everywhere, I shouldn't have given up soda until the semester ended.

Day 22...

Today was a interesting day.  It started with me reading the following email from one of my professors:

"Hi everyone,  I'm sick as a dog so class is cancelled.  Read, post, and respond, and I'll see you on Tuesday."

Like any college student, I shouted..."Fuck yeah!"

FYI: I've decided since I haven't declared a major yet, I should continue to swear like a sailor, in case I decide to major in Sailing; I don't want to be out of practice.


That's where the "like any college student" stuff ended.  Because as most college students were jumping back into their cozy crab-infested futons, snuggling up with their "Twilight" & "High School Musical" pillows for a couple extra hours of sleep - I'd already walked 4 miles, made breakfast, drank 2 cups of coffee, kissed my husband & daughter goodbye for the day, took my son to the bus, kissed him goodbye and checked my god damn email!   Seriously, it's a little late to go back to bed.


What I wouldn't have done for an opportunity to curl up in my lovely, laundry loaded bed and spoon my "Batman Forever" & "Jerry Maguire" pillow and go back to sleep for a couple of hours.


These were popular movies back in 1995.  I'm not afraid to admit Val Kilmer is hotter than Robert Pattinson any day! Ok, maybe not today (or for the last 10 years) 'cause like the rest of us...............Val got fat and old.  His Ice Man glory days are over. ☹

I'm betting Cuba Gooding Jr. would totally mess up Corbin Bleu though.......SHOW ME THE MONEY!

Day 21...

"What are you going to school for?"

Apparently, that's the million dollar question.  It's asked by most people that hear I am going back to college.  Some people stop there or say something like "Philosophy...really?!?!" A lot of people who haven't been to college go on to ask "What kind of job will you get with that?"

Until recently, I looked at college as a place to go if you want a good job.  A lot of people look at it through those eyes, as a way to have a leg up on the competition in the job market.  Something to get done with as soon as possible in order to get started with your "life." "What are you planning to do with a degree in ________?"  I have asked that very same questions to people starting college either fresh out of high school or non-traditional students who decide to go back.

To answer my own question:

I am going to learn something.  I am going to have my beliefs and views challenged.  I am going to be able to not only tolerate, but embrace people with differences.  I am going to utilize my brain in a way that I never have before. I am going to be uncomfortable and grow through that discomfort, becoming a stronger person.

I am going to be a role model for my children.  Teaching them that being static may not be enough for them and that leading an ever-changing life is OK.  So what if it wasn't part of the initial plan.  Plans and people change.  Don't be afraid to change your mind.  Shake things up!  Even if people don't understand or if they don't support you "rocking the boat."  Do what feels right to you, not what is safe or understood by the masses.

I believe this UWP experience is going to change me.  It will be uncomfortable for some, maybe even unacceptable for those who don't understand, but I know deep down it is right.

Hopefully, I won't be the only one who learns something.

Day 20...

Is it possible for a 32 year old woman who has put in only 20 days of college to have senioritis?

No, I did not say arthritis!  


While sitting in class today, I remembered why I work only part-time.  So I can enjoy days like today with my kids, friends or just with myself.  


Although technically, I was with "the kids" today.

This full-time student thing is throwing a giant wrench in my life of leisure, but I'm enjoying it!

Yes, as busy as I am, with as crazy a schedule as I have gotten myself into, I'm happy to be where I am.  
I'm not missing out on activities with the kids, I just don't clean my house!  I still hang out with my friends
(luckily for me, my good friend Trixie works at UWP), I just don't do my laundry!


I'm sure, in the next 40 years (I plan on graduating in 2050) I will have other days where the weather is begging me to quit school, or I miss something the kids are doing, but I have a feeling that I'm supposed to do something amazing with my life and school is part of that journey. Since I'm in it for the long haul, I better get used to it.

I wonder if senioritis gets worse for senior citizens?  Ask me in 30 years when I'm a 10th year junior at UWP!

Day 19...

was a blustery, beautiful day on campus.  Spring is officially here. In the 60 degree weather with 40 mph winds, I saw about a dozen girls in their triple layer tank tops.

I get the whole shedding the winter garb desire, but 3 tank tops...WTF?  Besides bare arms isn't that just good winter weather layering?  I mean, do you really need 2 other shirts hanging below the main one to achieve the look you are going for?

I am by no means a fashionista whatsoever, my favorite store is Goodwill for god's sake, but I just don't understand a trend that requires adding layers as the weather warms up.

I wonder if it is a safety technique for the 90 pounders? Adding extra layers (weight) may prevent the wind from blowing them all the way to Arthur.  

Day 18...

was a good day at school.  I had a meeting with a professor to discuss my midterm grade and my ideas for my 8 page final essay exam.  I loved hearing that I am getting an A, but the whole 8 page essay talk hurt my ears.

When I registered back in November, I thought this semester would be a good way to break back into school.  I didn't want to take any math or science or anything I thought would be hard, so instead I take 2 philosophy courses with a speech & ethnic studies course.  I can't even tell you how much reading and writing I am doing these days.  It's a bit ridiculous.  Now I realize a math course would have been a nice "do your problems and you're done" sort of class to break up some of the more subjective learning I am interested in.

The lesson here is that: I will know better next time, which really, is more important than every A I feel driven to earn.

I figured out years ago that educated people don't mean smart people.  We've all work with some highly educated people that are complete and total idiots.  Often times, I trust and value the opinions of my less formally educated, but smart and down-to-earth friends and colleagues, more than the experts.  The nice thing about being a non-traditional "older adult" student is that I am able to draw on my life experiences to enrich all of the new information I am receiving in class.

Sadly, most of the 18-22 year olds sitting next to me have another decade or so of figuring that out.  I consider myself lucky to be in college now.  I believe I will get a more complete & profound learning experience than those "kids" sitting next to me.

Probably because, there is a distractingly old lady in their class who keeps calling them"kids!" 

P.S.  Today, during my persuasive speech, I could have sold high speed rail to Henry Ford.   Another A+!  I am starting to wonder if this guy gives out A+'s pretty haphazardly.

Shit....those math grades are going to be hard to look at next semester, maybe I will be able to persuade my math professor that my work is outstanding and deserving of a passing grade.